Tipping the Scale toward Sickness or Wellness?
We are either moving toward a state of balance or ill health with every choice we make.
This balance or homeostasis is equilibrium in the body, the balance of all body systems
successfully working together. Homeostasis is also the balance of the body’s
physiology with the external environment. For example homeostasis naturally occurs in
flight mode increasing blood flow in the legs to run away from danger. We don’t have to
think about making this happen, the body naturally moves toward homeostasis at all
times.
Poor health choices can interrupt the process of homeostasis. However, by
implementing positive choices it is possible for disease to be present in the body and
still move toward balance. The key is being aware of body sensations and symptoms
as these give us clues as to what direction we are moving. This awareness can be a
motivator when making choices in mood or food or making time to move – all potentially
tipping the scale!
Functional medicine is a field of health care emphasizing this balance. Functional
medicine is science or evidence-based medicine that focuses on the person as a whole
rather than disease and views each system of the body as a web of connections, all
relating to one another for vitality and balance.
In functional medicine the person’s uniqueness is taken into account. The body is
viewed as an integrated whole, not simply an isolated set of parts. The emphasis is
placed more on identifying functional disorders, normalizing physiological pathways and
restoring homeostasis to the entire body.
Yearly lab testing can give clues on the level of homeostasis present in the body,
especially when comparing results to the previous year. A traditional approach looks at
abnormal lab values as the disease and attempts to normalize them or bring them within
the normal range. Functional thinking recognizes abnormal lab values as a piece of the
puzzle but they are merely superficial markers of far deeper disorders. This viewpoint
allows the patient and practitioner to accurately pursue healing of the true underlying
disorder.
Sometimes when taking a traditional approach there are no clear answers to our health.
We know something is wrong, but diagnosis is vague or difficult to understand. Often
the resort is drugs or surgery, which may cause more damage without restoring optimal
health.
According to the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine “Generally, 51% of FDAapproved
drugs have serious adverse effects not detected prior to approval. Each year
prescription drugs injure 1.5 million people so severely they require hospitalization. In
addition, prescription drugs cause 100,000 deaths annually.”
At any given time we are in one of five stage of health. These stages or levels of health
are: crisis, alarm, sustain, transform or wellness. Fluctuation between stages is very
common as daily choices move us in an out of each stage.
When in crisis our health is deteriorating and negative choices only adds to the
manifestation of disease. In the alarm stage we may have symptoms or a “gut” instinct
that something is not right. The sustain stage is stagnant health. This “quiet” stage of
health is neither vital nor ill, it is just sustaining. The transform stage is the pathway to
wellness when proactive choices are implemented into daily life. Finally, wellness is the
stage of dynamic vitality, a stage of health that is attainable for anyone, regardless of
their current state of health.
Here are four steps to get started in identifying your level of balance present in the
body.
First, check in with yourself for an intuitive sense of your body’s state. Our intuition is a
powerful source of knowing!
Second, identify the things you are doing that may create ill health. We all know what
we should do, but often don’t do it. Identify what you want your health to look like and if
today’s choices are congruent with your goal.
Third, schedule a comprehensive lab test. A comprehensive blood or saliva test
includes measurements of adrenal, thyroid, liver and kidney function, hormone levels,
glucose management, immune function and more.
Lastly, meet with a holistic doctor or physician to review the lab results and current
supplements / medications you are taking. The more information the doctor has the
better able he /she can assist in identifying how to begin wellness care.
Balance is the key! Be curious, be well!
Dr. Michelle Robin, Founder and CWO, Your Wellness Connection, P.A.,
Dr. Robin can be reached at 913-962-7408 or email mrobin@yourwellnessconnection.com
